diff --git a/docs/cookie-file.md b/docs/cookie-file.md
index 2b1d9fb99..3b14bbba1 100644
--- a/docs/cookie-file.md
+++ b/docs/cookie-file.md
@@ -6,15 +6,22 @@ Git-sync supports use of an HTTP Cookie File for accessing git content.
 
 First, create a secret file from the git cookie file you wish to
 use.
+
+Example: if the cookie-file is `~/.gitcookies`:
+
 ```
 kubectl create secret generic git-cookie-file --from-file=cookie_file=~/.gitcookies
 ```
 
+Note that the key is `cookie_file`.  This is the filename that git-sync will look
+for.
+
 # Step 2: Configure Pod/Deployment Volume
 
 In your Pod or Deployment configuration, specify a Volume for mounting the
-cookie-file Secret. Make sure to use the same name you used to create the
-secret (`git-cookie-file` in the example above).
+cookie-file Secret. Make sure to set `secretName` to the same name you used to
+create the secret (`git-cookie-file` in the example above).
+
 ```
 volumes: [
     {
@@ -29,10 +36,12 @@ volumes: [
 
 # Step 2: Configure git-sync container
 
-In your git-sync container configuration, mount your cookiefile at
-"/etc/git-secret". Ensure that the environment variable GIT_COOKIE_FILE
-is set to true, and that GIT_SYNC_REPO is set to use a URL with the HTTP
+In your git-sync container configuration, mount your volume at
+"/etc/git-secret". Make sure to pass the `--cookie-file` flag or set the
+environment variable `GIT_COOKIE_FILE` to "true", and to use a git repo
+(`--repo` flag or `GIT_SYNC_REPO` env) is set to use a URL with the HTTP
 protocol.
+
 ```
 {
     name: "git-sync",